About Gigrin Farm Red Kite Centre
Gigrin Farm is a small family farm half a mile from Rhayader, high above the Wye and Elan valleys, that has become one of the best places in Britain to watch wild red kites. Every day of the year the farm puts out meat, and typically 300 to 600 or more kites come in for it, with numbers climbing in bad weather. A few rare white, leucistic kites are seen here too.
The feed happens once a day, at 2pm in winter and 3pm from the end of March, when the clocks go forward. Crows, jackdaws and ravens gather first; once the meat is down, the kites drop in to snatch scraps, often chasing the crows to steal their food, while buzzards call from nearby. You watch from the viewing field or one of five large east-facing hides, three of them wheelchair accessible, and photographers can book specialist photo hides from £32 or a workshop with the farm's photographer.
The farm opens at 12:30pm on open days, which vary by month: daily in August and in school holidays, Saturday to Wednesday for much of the year, weekends only in January and early December, and closed on Wednesdays through November 2026. Arrive early to walk the waymarked farm trail, about 30 to 45 minutes with views over the hills and Rhayader, then warm up in the coffee shop with cake or ice cream, browse the gift shop or use the picnic site. Dogs on short leads are welcome on most of the farm.
Farmers' Welsh Lavender above Builth Wells is about 30 minutes south on the A470, so in late summer you can see the lavender in the morning and be here for the afternoon feed.
What to do
- Watch hundreds of red kites at the daily feed, 2pm in winter and 3pm in summer
- Look for the rare white leucistic kites
- Book a specialist photographic hide or a photography workshop
- Walk the 30- to 45-minute waymarked farm trail
- Have cake or ice cream in the coffee shop
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Kites fed every day of the year; open days vary by month, daily in August and school holidays
- Hours
- 2026/27: open 12:30pm–5pm on open days (Saturday–Wednesday most months; daily in August; weekends only in January; closed Wednesdays in November 2026; closed 21–27 December and 1 January)
- Admission
- 2026/27 from: adult £12, senior (65+) £10, child 4–15 £7.50, family of four £37, under-4s free; one dog per adult free, extra dogs £5; photographic hides from £32
Good to know
- Dogs
- Leashed (short lead; not in the coffee shop, gift shop, Hide 5 or photographic hides)
- Accessibility
- Three of the five standard hides are wheelchair accessible; the farm trail is not suitable for pushchairs or limited mobility
- Reservations
- Recommended (numbers limited daily)
Tips for your visit
- Book ahead, as visitor numbers are limited each day
- Check the feeding time: 2pm in winter, 3pm after the clocks go forward
- Wear sturdy footwear for the farm trail, which can be muddy
- Kite numbers often rise in bad weather, while quieter days can bring better photos
Pair it with a lavender farm
Farmers' Welsh Lavender · about 30 minutes away
Farmers' Welsh Lavender is about 30 minutes south on the A470, so a lavender visit pairs with the afternoon kite feed.
Getting there
Questions
What time are the red kites fed at Gigrin Farm?
At 2pm in winter, and at 3pm from when the clocks go forward in late March until they go back in late October.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, on a short lead on most of the farm, with one dog free per adult; dogs are not allowed in the coffee shop, gift shop or photographic hides.
How many kites will I see?
Usually 300 to 600 or more, depending on weather and season.
Do I need to book?
Booking ahead is recommended because numbers are limited each day.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Builth Wells & Mid Wales
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
